REMEMBRANCE

London poppy day
On Thursday 7th November, 25 personnel from RAF High Wycombe and Air Command travelled to London to take part in the Royal British Legions’ London Poppy Day – a day in which the RBL conduct a city wide campaign to raise as much as they can across London in a single 24 hour period. More than 2,000 volunteers representing the Royal Navy, Army, RAF, London businesses and Veterans took part in collecting at over 80 tube and mainline railway stations throughout the day.
This year for the first time, LPD raised over £1 million which is a fantastic achievement, and due to the big smiles and cheeky chat from the High Wycombe group, we managed to raise over £10,000 of that during our day at Charing Cross. It was a great day and I’m sure everyone in our group will be volunteering again next year!

Cowleaze woodsOn Friday 08 November, Personnel from RAF High Wycombe travelled down to Cowleaze Woods for the Act of Remembrance for the Crew of Halifax LW579 of 51 Sqn, RAF Snaith. Along with the local group of veterans and volunteers that maintain the memorial, we made our way through the woods to a small clearing, known to be the site of the crash. Now all that remains is a small stone memorial, engraved with the names of those that lost their lives.
On the 31st March 1944 the Halifax bomber LW579 crashed in Cowleaze Woods, killing all seven members of the crew. They had been on a bombing raid on Nuremberg in East Germany, one of the many that were involved that day.Tragically, after surviving the raid, they crashed here in the woods – so close to home. Contrary to the weather forecast, there was a brilliant moonlight that night; unfortunately we will never know why they didn’t make it.
It was a privilege to be part of such an occasion and our thanks must go to the volunteers that maintain the Memorial, and organise this important Ceremony every year.

Remembrance ParadeThe Stn Adjt, Flt Lt McNulty, led the RAF High Wycombe Parade on Remembrance Sunday this year in High Wycombe town centre. Remembrance Sunday is the day traditionally put aside to remember all those who have given their lives for the peace and freedom we enjoy today. On this day people across the nation pause to reflect on the sacrifices made by our brave Service men and women. The Padre, Rev Hake led the Service and act of Remembrance to a record breaking number of guests and spectators.